23 May 2008

Kin

It is claimed that six 'uniquely' human traits found in animals are: culture, [theory of mind], tool use, morality, emotions and personality.

Still unique to humans, it's said, are art, cooking, religion, humour and sport (which sounds like a fair summary of most of the things that people care about most of the time).

[P.S. 23 Aug: According to Michael Gazzinga, writes Daniel Levitin, "much of what makes us human is not an ability to do more things, but an ability to inhibit automatic responses in favor of reasoned ones; consequently, we may be the only species that engages in delayed gratification and impulse control."]

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